正法華經七寶塔品第十一
Chapter 11: The Precious Stupa
爾時佛前,七寶之塔從地踊出,二萬里適現繞佛,超在虛空自然而立。其塔殊好色若千變,五種之華而雨其上,紛紛如雪。莊嚴校飾塔寺講堂,以無數寶因共合成,百千欄楯窓牖軒戶,不可稱計。懸眾幡蓋垂寶瓔珞,諸明月珠羅列虛空,猶如眾星。香鑪寶瓶滿中名香,栴檀芬馨一切普勳,三千大千佛之國土。金銀琉璃水精、珊瑚虎魄、車𤦲馬瑙,以為寶蓋,其蓋高顯至第一天。忉利諸天及四天王,皆散意華供養七寶塔。其塔寺中自然發聲,歎言:「善哉!善哉!世尊安住!審如所言,道德玄妙超絕無侶,慧平等一猶如虛空,實無有異。」
At that time, an exquisite seven-jeweled stupa emerged from the earth before the Buddha. It appeared around the Buddha, rising two thousand miles into the sky, and stood miraculously suspended in the air. Its beauty was extraordinary, radiating colors that shifted through countless shades. Heavenly flowers rained down upon it like snowflakes, while the stupa itself was adorned with jewels of every kind—railings, windows, doors, and eaves all beautifully decorated beyond measure. Ornate banners and canopies hung alongside precious garlands, with brilliant moon pearls strung through the air like stars in the night sky. Fragrant incense burners and treasured vases emitted that filled the air with the exquisite scent of sandalwood, spreading throughout the universe to permeate the Buddha realms of the thousand-million-fold world system.
Precious materials—gold, silver, crystal, coral, amber, pearl, and agate—formed the magnificent canopy above, rising high into the heavens up to the realm of the thirty-three gods. The deities of that heaven, along with the Four Guardian Kings, scattered flowers in devotion to this seven-jeweled stupa. Then, from within the stupa, a natural voice arose, declaring:
"Excellent! Excellent! Blessed Buddha, established in truth, just as you have spoken—your path is profound and without equal, your wisdom illuminates all equally, like boundless space itself, manifesting the One Reality without any distinction."
時四部眾見七寶塔,在於虛空高大微妙,巍巍無量光燿煒曄,靡所不照,頒宣善哉,歡喜踊躍叉手而立,瞻戴無厭。時有菩薩,名曰大辯,見諸天人心懷猶豫,乍悲乍喜欲得知此,何所瑞應?故前問佛:「唯然世尊,今者何故,七寶塔寺現大聖前,高廣無極莫不見者,而寶塔寺自然出聲,讚曰善哉!何所感動而有此瑞?」
At that time, the fourfold assembly saw the seven-jeweled pagoda, suspended in the sky—vast, sublime, and majestic beyond measure, radiant with an immeasurable glow that illuminated all without exception. They proclaimed “Excellent!” and, overjoyed, stood with palms pressed together, gazing upon it without ever tiring. Then a bodhisattva named Great Eloquence, seeing that gods and humans alike harbored doubts in their hearts—now sorrowful, now joyful, wishing to understand what this omen meant—stepped forward and asked the Buddha: “O World-Honored One, why has this seven-jeweled pagoda appeared before the great Sage at this very moment, towering without limit so that none fail to see it? And why does the jeweled pagoda naturally give voice, praising with the words ‘Excellent!’? What cause has stirred this wondrous sign?”
世尊則告大辯菩薩:「此寶塔寺有如來身,完具一定而無缺減。東方去此不可計會諸佛世界,有佛號名多寶如來,國曰寶淨。本行道時而自發願:『吾會當以此《正法華經》當自修成,使諸菩薩皆得聽聞,然後乃坐於佛樹下,還成無上正真之道。』其佛所念,果如所言,為諸十方講說經法,開化一切皆令得道。於時其佛臨欲滅度,普告諸天世間人民及諸比丘:『吾滅度後,奉如來身全取其體,一等完具興大塔寺。若見塔者悉得其所,功德難限。』于時其佛,建立如是無極聖化:『十方世界其有講說此《法華經》,吾七寶塔,踊現諸佛所說經處,其舍利身在七寶塔,讚言善哉!』」
The World-Honored One then told Bodhisattva Great Eloquence, “This jeweled stupa temple contains the thus-come one’s body, complete in samādhi and lacking nothing. To the east, beyond countless buddha worlds, there is a buddha named Many Treasures Thus-Come One, whose land is called Jewel Purity. When he was practicing the path, he made this vow: ‘I will surely perfect this Lotus Sutra through my own practice, and cause all bodhisattvas to hear it. Only then will I sit beneath the bodhi tree and attain supreme perfect enlightenment.’ What that buddha aspired to came to pass just as he had said, as he expounded the Dharma for the ten directions and awakened all beings, leading them to the path. At that time, as that buddha was about to enter final nirvāṇa, he proclaimed to all gods, people of the world, and monks: ‘After I pass into cessation, honor the thus-come one’s body, preserve it whole and complete, and erect a great stupa temple. Whoever sees this stupa will find their true purpose, and the merit will be limitless.’ Then that buddha established this supreme and boundless sacred transformation: ‘In any place in the ten directions where this Lotus Sutra is taught, my seven-jeweled stupa shall appear wherever the buddhas expound the teaching. My relic body, enshrined within the seven-jeweled stupa, shall proclaim: Well done!’”
佛告大辯:「是七寶塔在于東方而處於下,去是無量江河沙佛土,在於虛空未曾出現,今見能仁如來正覺,本行學道為菩薩時,用眾生故不悋身命,精進不懈行權方便,布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、一心、智慧,求頭與頭求眼與眼,求鼻與鼻求耳與耳,手足支體妻子侍從,七寶車乘象馬衣裘,國邑墟聚恣人所求,無所愛惜自致得佛。今故來現致敬能仁,欲令能仁佛坐我所有師子金床,講《正法華》開化一切,使蒙其恩。」
The Buddha told Great Eloquence, "This seven-jeweled stupa is located in the east, resting below, separated from here by countless Buddha-lands as numerous as the sands of the Ganges River. It has remained in the sky without ever appearing—until now. It appears today because of the Realized One, the Thus Come One, the perfectly awakened Tathāgata. In the past, when He was cultivating the path and practicing as a bodhisattva, for the sake of sentient beings He did not begrudge His body or His life. He practiced diligently without pause, skillfully employing compassionate means—practicing generosity, moral discipline, patience, diligence, meditative concentration, and wisdom. When asked for His head, He gave His head; when asked for His eyes, He gave His eyes; when asked for His nose, He gave His nose; when asked for His ears, He gave His ears. His hands, feet, limbs, wife, children, attendants, seven-jeweled carriages, elephants, horses, clothing, furs, cities, towns, and villages—He gave freely to anyone who asked. He cherished nothing, and thus attained Buddhahood. This is why the stupa has now come to appear and pay respects to the Able One (Shakyamuni). Its purpose is to invite the Able One Buddha to sit upon my lion's golden throne and expound the *Correct Dharma Flower Sutra*, awakening and transforming all beings, so that they may receive its blessings."
能仁如來尋如所勸,則升講堂師子之座,分別敷演《正法華經》,而說頌曰:
The Thus-Come One, the Able and Benevolent, heeding the encouragement, ascended to the lion's seat in the lecture hall and began to expound the Lotus Sutra, proclaiming it in verse:
「設聞多寶佛, 知其名號者,
未曾畏終始, 不復遭苦患。
若聞藥王師, 假記名號者,
眾病自然愈, 尋則識宿命。
一切所供養, 奉法為最上,
分別空無慧, 自致得佛道。
宣暢《法華經》, 以示諸不及,
解本無三乘, 順一無上真。」
佛告大辯:「今者多寶如來、至真,在斯塔寺,遙聞說此《正法華》典,是以踊出,讚言善哉!」
The Buddha said to Great Eloquence, "Now the Thus Come One, the True One, Many Treasures, is here at this stupa. From afar he heard the preaching of this Correct Dharma Lotus Sutra, and so he arose and praised, saying, 'Excellent!'"
大辯菩薩復白佛言:「唯然世尊,今我等類諸來會者,欲得覩見多寶佛形,願垂恩慈加以威神,使諸來者各得其所開發大道。」
Great Eloquence Bodhisattva then addressed the Buddha, saying: "Yes, World-Honored One, we and all those gathered here now wish to behold the form of Many Treasures Buddha. We humbly ask that you, through your compassionate grace and majestic spiritual power, enable all who have come here to find their proper place and awaken the great Path."
佛告大辯菩薩:「多寶如來本亦自誓:『我之塔寺所至方面,聽此經典,設諸如來及四部眾,欲覩吾身,隨其十方之所欲願,皆當得見,咸共供養於此化像。』大辯!欲知我身,亦當感是十方諸佛,一切世界所化如來,講說法者皆令詣此。」
The Buddha told Great Debating Bodhisattva, "Many Treasures Tathagata also made this vow in the past: 'Wherever my stupa and temple reach, should this sutra be heard, and if all Tathagatas and the fourfold assembly wish to see my body, according to their wishes in the ten directions, they shall all behold it, and all shall pay homage to this transformation image.' Great Debating, know that my body likewise moves all the Buddhas of the ten directions—all Tathagatas manifested in every world to expound the Dharma—to gather here."
爾時大辯菩薩復白佛言:「唯然世尊,垂加大恩,普現一切十方國土諸佛聖德。」
佛默然可,即時演放眉間眾毛微妙光明,普照十方各各五百江河沙等億百千數諸佛國土,一切世尊各各普現,止其國土坐於樹下奇妙莊嚴師子之座,與無央數百千菩薩,在寶交露布好座具,珍琦殊異懸繒幡蓋,垂於四面諸佛座上,為諸眾生講說經法,音聲柔和靡不解達,百千菩薩啟受所聞。東西南北四隅上下,無數百千億姟難量江河沙等諸佛世界,皆亦如是靡不見者。
時十方佛各各自告諸菩薩等:「諸族姓子,汝輩當往詣忍世界見能仁佛如來、至真,并當瞻戴多寶世尊形像塔寺。」
彼時於此忍界所有功勳善德,殊雅威神自然而現,七寶諸樹周匝而生,其地悉變為紺琉璃,以紫磨金而為長繩,連綿莊飾八交路道,其地平正,除諸郡國縣邑村落、大海江河川流泉源,皆不復現,但見自然諸天香鑪燒眾名香,普雨天華。於此佛土,應時移徙諸天人民在他佛國。時諸眾會現在七寶諸交露帳,諸交露帳莊嚴殊妙,不可稱量遍此佛土。時彼十方一切諸佛,各有侍者,亦復皆來詣此忍界,各各至於眾寶樹下。此諸寶樹高二萬二千里,枝葉華實各各茂盛,斯寶樹下有師子床,高二萬里,皆以奇寶眾珍為座。如來座上,如是比像,於此三千大千世界,但見諸佛靡不周遍,非是釋迦文如來、至真、等正覺之所變現也,各從十方諸佛剎土而來到此,顯示大道無極之德。
爾時世尊釋迦文尼,變諸如來所化形像,在於八方各二萬億所有國土,皆無地獄、餓鬼、畜生,移徙諸天及阿須倫,在於他方諸佛世界。令二萬億諸佛國土地紺琉璃,皆以七寶變成樹木,其諸寶樹高二萬二千里,枝葉華實各各茂盛,諸師子座高二萬里,此諸佛土而皆平正,無有河海眾流泉源,亦無諸山,目隣、大目隣、須彌山王、鐵圍、大鐵圍,一一佛土其地平等,七寶合成各各莊嚴,諸寶交露快樂難量,遍布諸華燒眾名香。諸寶樹下各有如來坐師子床。如是比類,復更別有二萬世界能仁如來,各為諸方而特莊嚴,顯現清淨,皆為諸佛作其處所,此諸佛土,亦無地獄、餓鬼、畜生,諸龍、鬼神及阿須倫,亦復移徙諸天人民在他佛土。此諸佛土地紺琉璃,以紫磨金而為寶繩,連綿諸樹八重交道。又彼諸樹高大妙好亦復如前,師子之床莊嚴交飾。其地平正,無有山河江海之事,香華眾寶珍琦交露,垂明月珠亦復如前,行來進止道徑由路等無差特。
爾時釋迦文佛所化如來,在於東方恒沙等剎班宣道教,皆復來至,十方世界各三千億諸佛正覺,皆來詣此,如來悉坐於師子寶床,各取寶華授諸侍者:「諸族姓子,汝等往詣耆闍崛山能仁佛所,致吾名字敬問無量,聖體康強力勢如常,所遊安耶?以此眾華,供散彼佛及諸菩薩眾弟子上,宣我所言,多所開化。」
於是釋迦文如來、至真,見諸所化各各坐於師子之座,及諸侍者皆來集會,齎華供養,即從坐起住於虛空,四部之眾悉亦各起叉手而立。佛以手指開七寶寺講堂之戶,亘然通徹晃若日出,譬如開於大國城門,而以管籥去其關軸內外無礙。釋迦文佛以手兩指,開七寶寺講堂之戶,現其威德不可稱限亦復若茲。如來這開七寶寺戶,多寶如來、至真、等正覺身即現矣,坐師子床,肌色如故亦不枯燥,威光端正相好如畫,口重宣言:「善哉!善哉!釋迦文佛!說此經典,何其快乎!吾以欲聞此經法故,故自出現。」
時四部眾見多寶如來、至真、等正覺,聞其滅度去世以來不可稱計億百千劫,聽言善哉!甚大驚怪,初未曾有。即以天華,供養散於釋迦文佛、多寶如來。時多寶佛則以半座與釋迦文,七寶寺中有聲出曰:「釋迦文佛!願坐此床。」釋迦文佛輒如其言,時二如來共同一處,在於虛空,七寶交露坐師子床。
時四部眾各心念言:「諸佛、至真道德高遠而不可逮,巍巍難量不可稱限,惟願如來,垂意見念加威神恩,令我等輩俱處虛空。」佛知所念,現神足力,使四部眾自然超上處於虛空。
時釋迦文佛告四部眾諸比丘等:「於此忍界,誰能堪任說是經典?今是其時亦是大節,如來現在、若滅度後,當受此法持諷讀誦。今如來身幸欲滅度,比丘當捨如來所供養供事之誼,奉順恭敬於此經典。」
於時說頌曰:
「無極大聖, 來至於斯, 導師因現,
琦妙塔寺。 比丘欲知, 聽法故舉,
何人省是, 不興精進。 滅度以來,
無央數劫, 今日乃能, 欲聽經典。
以故發來, 因緣宣教, 得度無極,
法之善利。 於往故世, 自興此誓,
導師所願, 正由此道。 滅度以來,
久遠乃爾, 於今復見, 十方世界。
自在去此, 悠悠極逈, 億百千數,
如江河沙。 因經典故, 而發詣此,
滅度聖將, 而自現矣。 各各由在,
於諸國土, 一切志樂, 聲聞之行。
皆欲將護, 於正法故, 何緣當令,
經典久存? 因由依附, 諸佛之道,
在無央數, 諸佛世界, 取合眾生,
來至於斯, 修治嚴淨, 神足之力。
各各自說, 如是廣誼, 何因得說,
於茲法眼? 諸佛住此, 不可稱計,
在於樹下, 而處道場。 其身真諦,
巍巍億姟, 諸導師眾, 坐師子床。
清淨常正, 明顯如日, 若如火光,
除於陰冥。 柔軟美香, 薰於十方,
供養達至, 愍傷世者。 其有度脫,
一切眾生, 恩德流布, 常通於此。
吾滅度之後, 其持此經典,
速逮得受決, 目見世導師。
佛滅度之後, 其多寶仁賢,
聞見師子座, 塔寺所在處。
我身次在是, 億千來至此,
最勝子所由, 堪說斯經典。
若聞此法, 能受究竟, 則為奉事,
歸命我身, 并及多寶, 如來之尊,
奉順現在, 十方諸佛。 復及今來,
諸導師眾, 莊校聖體, 殊妙難量,
悉為供養, 具足無限, 用尊修受,
此經典故。 以曾見吾, 聞所講說,
亦復更覩, 寺中世尊, 并餘無數,
諸導師眾, 從百千億, 國土至此。
慧命族姓子, 愍傷於眾生,
此處難可值, 諸導師所樂。
諸無數經卷, 猶如江河沙,
佛雖說彼經, 不足為奇特。
其度須彌山, 則以手舉持,
跳著億千國, 不足以為難。
設有分別說, 奇句述百千,
聞億千佛國, 不足以為難。
若住極上界, 為天人講法,
宣暢無量經, 不足以為奇。
佛滅度之後, 末世能堪受,
班宣此經典, 爾乃為殊特。
若以一手捲, 捉盡於虛空,
至於無所至, 不足以為難。
我滅度之後, 若歸如是像,
來世書此經, 爾乃為奇特。
設取十方地, 舉著於爪上,
擎行恣所遊, 升置于梵天。
此者不為遠, 精進無奇異,
不如於來世, 須臾讀此經。
假使劫燒時, 人踐火中行,
及擔草不燒, 不足以為奇。
我滅度之後, 若持此經典,
為一人說者, 爾乃為殊特。
假使有受持, 八萬諸法藏,
頒宣如所說, 以示億千人。
比丘於彼世, 開化諸聲聞,
住於神通者, 不足為奇異。
若持此經典, 信喜而愛樂,
數數諮稱者, 爾乃為殊異。
若無數億千, 興立無著塔,
六通極大聖, 猶如恒邊沙。
佛滅度之後, 設持此經典,
其人得功報, 過是難限量。
百千諸世界, 說法不可計,
今我亦宣暢, 佛慧所分別。
計是經典者, 一切經中尊,
其奉持此典, 則侍諸佛身。
族姓子講說, 現在如來前,
後世持是經, 賢聖乃堪任。
須臾持此經, 則為奉敬佛,
一切諸導師, 是經難值遇。
一切十方佛, 為現所諮嗟,
勇猛有威神, 神通為以達。
名德遠流布, 諸佛所愛樂,
用持此經故, 逮得寂定地。
導師滅度後, 則為天世人,
顯示作眼目, 宣布此經故。
於當來之世, 須臾說此典,
其一切眾生, 稽首禮明者。」
(諸本此中加梵志品,各分為二十八品云)
時能仁佛告諸眾會:「吾往無數難稱限劫,求《法華經》未曾懈惓。時作國王,遵修大法六度無極,布施金銀水精、琉璃琥珀、珊瑚珠玉、車𤦲馬碯,頭目肌肉、手足支體、妻子男女、象馬車乘,不惜軀命,時人壽長不可計會。吾用法故,捐棄國位委正太子,行求大典,擊鼓振鐸宣令華裔:『有能為吾演大典者,吾當為僕供給走使。』時有梵志而報之曰:『我有大典《正法華經》,若能為僕吾當慧報。』」
佛告比丘:「吾聞其言,歡喜從命奉侍梵志,給所當得水漿飲食,掃灑應對趨走採果,儲畜資糧未曾懈廢,奉侍千歲使無僥渴。」
佛時頌曰:
「擊鼓振鐸, 宣令遠近, 欲求大典, 《正法華經》。
若見賜者, 吾當為僕, 趨走役使, 給所當得。
甘心樂聞, 不敢疲倦, 所當供養, 不惜身力。
趣欲聞受, 《正法華經》, 願及十方, 不適為已。
其王精進, 未曾休懈, 衣食供命, 不求甘奇。
愍念眾生, 諸未度者, 尋時即獲, 《正法華經》。」
佛告諸比丘:「時國王,則吾身也。梵志者,調達是。今吾具足六度無極大慈大悲,成四等心、三十二相、八十種好紫磨金色,十種力、四無所畏、四事不護、十八不共,威神尊重度脫十方,皆由調達恩德之力。調達却後無央數劫,當得作佛,號曰天王如來、至真、等正覺、明行成為、善逝、世間解、無上士、道法御、天人師,為佛、眾祐,世界名天衢。時天王佛廣說經法,如江河沙眾生得無著證,無數不可計人志在緣覺,如江河沙無量蒸民,皆發無上正真道意至不退轉。其佛當壽二十中劫,滅度之後,正法當住二十中劫,不散身骨合全舍利起七寶塔,高六十里,周八十里,普天下人悉往供養,香華伎樂歌頌功德,繞塔作禮,不可計人得無著證,無央數人志緣覺乘,不可思議無量天人,發無上正真道意,志不退轉。若族姓子、族姓女,逮得聞是《正法華經》,心中㸌然而無狐疑,杜塞三趣,不墮地獄、餓鬼、畜生,便當得生十方佛前諮受正法,若在天上世間豪貴,若在佛前自然化生七寶蓮華。」
於時下方多寶世尊所從菩薩,號曰智積,自啟其佛,當還本土。時能仁佛告智積曰:「吾有菩薩,名溥首童真,且待斯須可與相見,宜敘闊別諮講經典乃還本土。」
於是溥首坐七寶蓮華,有千葉大如車輪,與諸菩薩俱坐蓮華,從龍王宮踊出大海。溥首童真,皆退下華禮二佛已,與智積菩薩對相問訊。智積菩薩問溥首曰:「所詣海淵,化度幾何?」
答曰:「其數無量不可稱限,非口所宣非心所計,如今不久自當有應。」所說未竟,尋有蓮華從海踊出在虛空中,無數菩薩皆坐其上,此皆溥首在海之所化,悉發大意。其志無上正真道者,普在空中講大乘事;本發聲聞意者,在於虛空說弟子行,解知大乘。溥首前謂智積曰:「在海所化,其現若茲。」
智積菩薩以頌問曰:
「至仁慧無量, 化海眾寶數,
唯為露聖旨, 分別說其意。」
溥首答曰:「在於海中,惟但敷演《正法華經》。」
智積又問:「其法甚深尊妙難及,能有尋時得佛者乎?」
溥首答曰:「龍王有女厥年八歲,聰明智慧與眾超異,發大道意志願弘廣,性行和雅而不倉卒,便可成佛。」
智積又問:「我覩能仁,是仁大師,本求佛道為菩薩時,積功累德精進不懈,歷劫難計乃得佛道,不信此女便成正覺。」
言語未竟女忽然現,稽首作禮繞佛三匝,却住讚曰:
「功祚殊妙達, 現相三十二,
諸天所敬侍, 神龍皆戴仰。
一切眾生類, 莫不宗奉者,
今我欲成佛, 說法救群生。」
時舍利弗即謂女言:「汝雖發意有無極慧,佛不可得。又如女身,累劫精進功積顯著,尚不得佛。所以者何?以女人身未階五位:一曰天帝,二曰梵天,三曰天魔,四曰轉輪聖王,五曰大士。」
其女即以一如意珠價當是世,時孚供上佛,佛輒受之。女謂舍利弗及智積曰:「吾以此珠供上世尊,佛授疾不?」
答曰:「俱疾。」
女曰:「今我取無上正真道成最正覺,速疾於斯。」於斯變成男子菩薩,尋即成佛,相三十二、眾好具足,國土名號眾會皆見,怪未曾有,無央數人、天、龍、鬼神,皆發無上正真道意,三千世界六反震動,三萬道迹得不退轉,皆當逮成無上正真道。舍利弗、智積菩薩,默然無言。